Sykes to fore as SBCI stun leaders Lane

Champions SBCI climbed out of the bottom two in the Foster’s Halifax League’s top flight by inflicting a first league defeat of the season on leaders Jer Lane on Saturday.

Home skipper Jamie Sykes took five for 52 to dismiss the visitors for 146, his victims including run machine Raqeeb Younas for 11 and top-scoring pair Paul Chapman (30) and Junior Williams (41). Robin Hanson assisted with three for 26.

Lane were 97 for nine but West Indian Williams salvaged two batting points, with experienced ‘keeper Graham Sivyer for company, before Sykes brought himself back on to finish the innings.

Young George Hampshire made 38 at the top of the SBCI order and Tom Conway’s 36 not out wrapped up a five-wicket success.

Bradshaw replaced SBCI in the bottom two at the half-way point of the season when their batting flopped at home to Sowerby Bridge.

Dangerman Simon Collins took six for 41 after Josh Dougall (three for 21) had made early inroads to restrict Bridge to 151 for nine. Paul Gledhill (36) and Richard Price (31 no) were the main contributors for the visitors.

Bradshaw were soon eight for three and never recovered with Ashton Richardson (six for 66) bowling through at one end.

Clayton remain bottom but will have taken heart from a three-wicket home win over Copley, Chris Ramsden and Sam Wilson being their star performers.

Wilson took five for 57 off 15 overs to restrict Copley to 219 for nine, Nick Gomersal (61), Chris Dalby (55), Ollie Thorpe (45) and Luke Simpson (33 no) making the only double-figure contributions.

Ramsden followed up his 133 in the defeat by Jer Lane the previous week with 122 before being run out as Clayton reached their target with 10 balls to spare.

Blackley went above Thornton into second place, nine points behind Jer Lane, when they beat visitors Mytholmroyd by five runs and Thornton went down by four wickets at home to Triangle.

Blackley were sent in on a green, bowler-friendly wicket and were 147 for eight before Bilal Sheraz (41) and Irshad (45) put on 76 for the eighth wicket.

Blackley lost their last three wickets without adding to the total, Adie Gawthrope following up his seven wickets against Warley the previous week with six for 86.

Tom Earle (61) blasted Royd to 70 without loss but off the first 10 overs but after losing partner Steve Senior for 24 he departed to Tom Baxter’s running catch.

Gawthrope made 33 and several teammates got a start but then perished. With 13 overs left, ‘Royd only needed five but Paul Dowle (four for 41) removed the last two visiting batsmen leg before in consecutive balls to spark home celebrations.

Veteran pair Roger Smith and Gary Rodger took three wickets each as Thornton were limited to 163 for nine by Triangle, Josh Hutchinson’s 28 being the top score.

Triangle lost Liam Turner and Christian Silkstone with the score on 13 but a 77-run stand between Nathan Madden (44) and Kieran Rodger (26) got the visitors back on track and Rodger’s father Gary (29 no) saw the task through.

Booth beat Warley by three wickets with three overs to spare prior to their Parish Cup semi-final rematch next Sunday.

Ben Atkinson top scored with 32 in Warley’s 195 for eight, a late flurry of runs raising home hopes.

However, Richard Laycock hit a half century and ex-Brighouse player John Potkins made 46 as Booth responded successfully.

Southowram humbled hosts Old Crossleyans to stay clear at the top of Division One.

Dean Crossley (64) and Andy Measey (41) showed the way to a Rams total of 202 for nine, Safir Hussain taking four for 61 against his former club.

Crocs were steamrollered for just 51 in reply with Tom Belfield (five for 32) and ex-Greetland player Gavin Moody (four for 18) on song.

Queensbury continue on the up and they were easy 93-run winners down the road at Northowram Hedge Top.

Jamie Priestley anchored their innings with 98 not out and Phil Sharples (42), Malik (59) and Ali (45) punished the home attack to lift the total to 277 for six.

Northowram were never scoring quickly enough in reply. Gurdiv Singh took five for 57 and Darren Jack three for 50 but Queensbury had to settle for nine points as their hosts laboured to 184 for nine.

Outlane pulled a 15-run win out of the bag away to Bridgeholme and condemned Crocs to bottom spot.

Glynn Croft made 83 and Dan Crosland 49 in Outlane’s 236 for nine, Allan Ditta taking five wickets for Bridgeholme.

When the home side slipped from 50 without loss to 68 for five and 92 for seven an Outlane win looked almost a formality.

A 124-run stand between Ollie Challis and Saj Mahmood, who both scored 68, threatened to turn the game on its head.

However, Anwar Shokat dismissed Challis and Ditta and Alex Blagbrough removed Mahmood as Bridgeholme’s last three wickets went down for five runs.

Gareth Hall hit a century as Luddenden Foot piled up 314 for six to beat Wibsey Park Chapel in the clash of two of the second division’s leading lights.

Hall hit eight sixes in a knock of 105 and opening bowler Isaac Baldwin (77) and skipper Karl Whipp (50) also feasted on the visiting attack.

Wibsey started well with a 76-run opening stand and Gareth Swain broke down after bowling a single delivery. Richard Hassall made 90 and Paul Ravenscroft 59 but Wibsey fell behind the required rate and with Baldwin and Chris Roy taking three wickets each finished on 263 for seven.

Ryan Severn’s destructive 52 not out hastened the conclusion at Stainland, where the home side chased down a target of 194 against Augustinians with six wickets and plenty of overs to spare.

Steve Priestley and Brad Patefield had a day to remember as Shelf romped to a 133-run home win over Old Town.

Priestley hit a 42-ball century, including 32 off the final over of the innings, to build on the good work of Andy Dimbleby (56) and Jonathon Marshall (60).

Priestley finished on 116 not out in a total of 282 for six.

The 15-year-old Patefield took his first senior wickets in Old Town’s reply of 149, finishing with four for 11.

Martin Jenkins took six wickets and Michael Mills and Carl Harrison hit 50s as leaders Low Moor easily saw off the challenge from visitors Greetland.